Chain Issues?

Hi, All. So I've really been enjoying getting out on the new bike for the last two weeks, but I'm running into a couple issues that I'm hoping someone can help me with.

The first is when I go over logs/roots/etc. my chain will occasionally "jump" a bit. Yesterday, I had my chain come off three times in a 1-hour ride. It appeared to continue to happen even when I brought the front wheel up and when I kept pedaling.

The second - possibly related - issue occurs occasionally when I'm pedaling hard: the chain appears to "skip" over a few links. The momentary loss of power is killing me on some of the hills.

So, what I'm wondering is if maybe my chain is too long? Could it be something with my gears or maybe my derailleur? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

If it turns out that it is an issue with the model of the derailleur itself and not something else, is there another rear derailleur that would be recommended as a good value that won't jump around on me?

If it turns out that it is an issue with the model of the derailleur itself and not something else, is there another rear derailleur that would be recommended as a good value that won't jump around on me?

1) use big gears as opposed to small ones, for example if you find yourself in the small chain ring up front, and one of the middle cogs in back, go to middle ring in front, and a larger cog in back. Same gear ratio, but higher tension. This is also better for another reason: I always felt that the little chainring was the flexiest gear on the bike because of the leverage it puts on the drive train, so you want to force yourself to use higher gears add you improve - I habitually shift to the bigger chain rings whenever possible and stay out of the granny gear until it gets really steep.

2) to see if the chain is too long, shift to big in front and big in back. It should just barely work, with the rear derailluer cage at about a 45 degree angle, and when pedaling, it will feel like its 'dragging' on something, mostly because of the high angle the rear derailleur cage needs to be at and the tension thru the rear d. You don't want to ride like this, you're just testing here. If the rear d cage is at a lower angle this is a sign the chain is too long. Also if you go to little cog and granny on front, the rear d should pull back the cage very far but still keep tension on the chain. If the rear d cage is at the stop (where the cage would rest if there was no chain), then the chain is probably a link too long.

I'm guessing the real issue is probably related to ddprocter's first point: using the small chainring. To be honest, you can do all you want but as long as you have multiple front gears you will occasionally have the chain bounce off. Drastic measures like getting a chainguide might be able to be taken, but in reality there isn't much you can improve assuming everything is set up properly. Just try to be in the middle chainring and when your chain starts slapping around, remember to take it easy on that first pedal stroke in case something moved.

Don't you hate it when a sentence doesn't end the way you think it octopus?